Plow-lift.



w.l H. C. HIGGINS, 1H. PLOW LIFT.

APPUC"CN FILED AUG.23.1913v 6 SHEETS-SHEEY l.

Patented Apr; 15, 191).

'W. H. C. HIGGINS, JR.

PLOW LIFT.

APPUCATON FILED AUG.23.1913.

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W. H. C. HIGGINS, JR.

PLOW LIFT.

APPLxCATaoN FILED AUG. 23. 1913.

W. H. C. HIGGINS. ix.

PLOW LIFT.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.23. |913.

Patent-ed Apr. 15,1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W. H. C. HIGGINS, In,

\ PLOW LIFT.

APPLICATION FILED U-23. I9I3A y 1,300,392. PuIc-nted Apr. 10,1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- xo (n I@ EN W. H. C. HIGGINS, JR.

PLOW LIFT.

`APPLICATION FILED AuG.23.1913.

1 ,300,392, Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

's SHEETS-SHEET 5. i

c w N TED STATES Ferca.

WILLIAM H. C. HIGGINS, JR., OF LAPORTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- `MENTS, T0 ADVANCE-RUMELY COMPANY', 0F LAPORTE, INDIANA, A. CORPORATION on INDIANA.

PLOW-LIFT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

TMZLZZ 'wkomz't may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. C. HIG GINs, Jr., a citizen of the United States, residin at Laporte, in the county of Laporte and tate of Indlana, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Plow- Lifts, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in gang plows and is illustrated diagrammatically in one form in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a plan view;

Fig. 2 is a section pn line 2 2 of Fig. l with parte broken away and parts omitted;

Fig. 3 is a similar View to Fig. 2 showing the plow in the raised position;

Fig. 4 is adetail section on a large scale along the line 4 4 of Figs. 1 and 5 of the driving clutch;

' Fig. 5 is a section'along the line 5 5 of Fig. Gis 'a section along the line 6 6 of Fig. 1 showing the plow raising and locking mechanism in the plowing position;

Fig. 7 is a similar section showing Ythe mechanism in the lifting position the parts being shown as they are just after the first plow is lifted. y

Fig. 8 is a front elevation with parts broken away of the central plow lifting mechanism shown in Fig. l;

.Fig 9 is a section along the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Like parts are indicated by the same letters in -all the figures.

A triangular plow frame made up of the cross-piece A, a side member A1 and a diagonal member A2, is supported at its forward end on the propeller wheels A3 which are keyed on the axle A4, which axle is rotatably mounted in the bearings A14, and is supported at its rear end by the caster wheel A5. Plow brackets or steps A6 project outwardly and rearwardly from the diagonal member A2 and have pivoted thereon the individual plow beams A7, which beams carry any well-known type of mold-board plow A8 and a wheel or disk colter A1. A gage wheel B is pivotally mountedbetween the forks B1 on the gage rod B2, which rod is slidably mounted in a guide sleeve B3, one on each of the plow frames A". The gage rod is provided with -a llar B4 at its upper end,

vit the link, '1t will at the completion perforate-to slidably engage Athe adjusting screw B5, which screw is provided with the ally mounted on the plow beam A7 adjacentits forward pivotal point, is connected by means of the chains B11 with the free end of the bell crank lever B8.

One of the wheels As is provided with an V'elongated hub C carrying a sprocket pinion C1 over"whiehizidesva sprocket chain C2 to drive the sprocket gear' C3-.-.-llh`is sprocket gear is rotatably mounted on a sleeve` Ccn the square shaft C5, which shaft is rotatably mounted in bearings which hold it parallel with the framevmember A. This sprocket gear C3 is formed about the periphery of ay clutch disk C6 which disk has an overhanging annular wall C7, the inner surface of which is serrated or corrugated as at C8. A lug C9 projects outwardly from the sleeve C4 in the same lane as the wall C7. Links C10 on either si e of said lug are pivoted upon it and have pivoted between their free ends a roller C11. A spring C12 engages on one end a web C13 connecting the links C10 and on the other end a lug C14 on the sleeve C1. This spring yieldingly presses the roller C11 into the serrations C8 on the clutch disk C7. It will be noted that theangles are such that when the sprocket or clutch disk C6 is rotatedin the direction shown by the arrow, it will force the shaft C1s to rotate in unison with it.

D is an o erating lever pivoted on the member A rawn yieldingly toward the shaft C by the spring D1 and adapted to be actuated by the operator by means vof the cord D2 against the tension of the spring D1. D3 -is a stop to limit the outward movement of the lever D away from the shaft C5. D5 is a controlling roller mounted on the lever D in the path of the link C10 and adapted to engage the cani surfaces D, D7 on saidlink so that as the shaft C5 rotates, carryingfwith o each revolution come into such relation with the roller D5 kthat this roller rides up on the cam surfaces D, D7 and rotates the link C13 back toward the shaft C5 against the compression of the spring yC12 to draw the roller C11 out of engagement with the clutch disk C". A bracket D8 has a bearing D3 in which is rotatably mounted the cam sleeve E1 to support one end of the shaft C5,together with the clutch mechanism. The cam disk D1o is mounted on and rota-tes with the sleeve C* and is notched as indicated at D11'to permit the roller D7 which normally rides therealong to drop into the notch andl approach more closely to the shaft C5, thus to insure that the roller C11 and link C10 will be forced sufficiently far back to bring the roller out of register with the serrations C3.

Brackets E are mounted on the frame A at points equidistant along the shaft C5 and have rotatably mounted therein sleeves E1 on the square shaft These sleeves carry cams E2 which are held by the shape of the shaft against rotation thereabout. A rock shaft E3 extends along the frame A above. and in front of the shaft C5, being supported in the brackets E. Pivoted on this rock shaft at points along the frame A are plow lifting levers E5, these levers being made of two parallel spaced bars. Between each pair of bars is located a roller in opposition to the cam E2. A link E is pivoted to the lower end of each of said levers and is pivotally connected at its free end to the lever B10 whereby as the cams E2 in rotating with the shaft C5 come in contact with the rollers E5, the levers will be sprung or locked and the plow lifted by the tension of the link E3 which rotates the swinging arm B10 and operates the bell crank B3 to raise the frame A7 with respect to the gage wheel B.

F is a pinion rigidly mounted on the shaft C5 and in mesh with the. gear F1, which gear is rotatably mounted on a subshaft F2 on one of the brackets E. This gear carries a cam F3 in opposition to which is a roller F4 on the rocker arm F5, which rocker arm is held by the set screw F6 on the shaft Es against rotation thereabout. F7 is a further rocker arm rigidly attached to the shaft E3 and F8 is a spring yieldingly drawing the rocker arm F7 down to hold the cam roller F4 against the cam F3. G, G are rocker arms rigidly attached to the shaft E3 one adjacent each of the levers E4. G1, G1 are controlling rods slidabl mounted in the end of the rocker arms G and pivoted at their lower ends to latch levers G2, which levers are pivoted to the lower ends of the lifting levers E4. This l latch is provided with a latching lip G3 in opposition to a stop G4. Springs G5, G5

of said springs so that movement of the rockl the case may be to the sliding rod G1 to actuate the latch.

In Figs. 6 and 7 is shown the cam F3 in opposition to the cam F3 and mounted on the gear F1v whereby the roller F1 on the rocker arm F5 is contacted to positively rotate the rock shaft E3 tothe inner released position so that there may be yno possibility of weakness or breaking of the spring F 5 causing the plows to be not released atl the proper time.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: v

With the plow in the plow lifting position as shown in Fig. 2, when it becomes necessary to raise the plows the operator will draw on the cable D2 and pull the roller D5 out from the clutch links. This will permit the spring C12 to force the roller C11 into engagement with the clutch disk, and since this clutch disk is always rotating in response to the forward movement of the plow frame, the square shaft C5 will com* mence to rotate. As it rotates the cams E2 will come-successively in contact with the rollers E5, forcing the lifting links E1 forward away from the plows to lift the `plows as indicated. Since these cams are spaced at different angular positions about thie shaft, the plows will be successively raised so that as the plow frame continues to move forward, the plows will be lifted only when they reach a certain predetermined line and the furrow will thus have a square end.

While this operation is taking place, the gear on the short sub-shaft will have been rotated and the cam thereon will assume the position shown in Fig. 7. rocking the latch, actuating the rocker arms G onV the rocker shaft E3 into the position shown to compress the spring G5 and draw upwardly on the latch link G1, thus depressing the latching lip G3. As the rotation continues and as this lever is moved back to lift the plow, the latch will go behind the stop G4 and then as the rotation continues the cam E2 will lift the roller E5 gradually and permit the latching lip G3 to engage the stop G5, thus holding the plow out of the ground in the position as indicated in Fig. 3. As soon as the shaft C5 has made a complete revolution and lifted all of the lows out of the ground, the cam surfaces 5, D7 will come into -contact with the roller D5., since the roller is now held back by the spring D1 and the roller C11 will thus be drawn out of contact with the clutch disk and the shaft C5 will stop and will no longer rotate.

When it is desired to lower the plows into the ground again, the clutchV is thrown as indicated above to rotate the square shaft. This causes the rotation of the gear F1 which has twice as many teeth as F to connot take place owing to the fact that the n weight of the plow holds the latch against the stop. The cam F9 is so positioned with respect to the cam F3 that as the gear carrying them rotates the roller F4 will follow the contour of the cam F3, that is to say, the cam F9 brings the roller F4 back toward the shaft F2 to throw the rock arm F7 downwardly in the same direction that it is yieldingly drawn by the spring F5.

However, when the cam`E2 comes around and releases this weight, the latch instantly flies up. Then as the cam continues its rotation. leaving the cam roller, the plow is allowed to gradually drop into the ground as the roller rides along the cam. Thus the lifting cam has a three-fold function. It lifts the plows which are then locked'in the up position by an additional means, it subsequently releases the lock means and finally eases the plow into the ground. The cam, however, does not itself act as the lock means and does not itself support or hold the plows out of the ground at any time, eX-

duringxthe actual progress of ing or of the lowering operation, but the spring latch is what holds the plows out, operating as it does in response to the operation of the cam.

It will be noted that when the roller D5 engages the cam D7 it forces the lever which carries the cam back, and as the roller D5 engages the notch D11 it comes in contact with the cam surface D6.

It will be evident, referring for instance to Fig. 7 that the part E2 when it forces the roller E5 farther away and swings the arm E4 so far that the latch G3 can slip, over the stop Gr4 and then as the part E2 goes on the arm E4 swings back and the latch 'G3 settles down against the stop G4 and it is this pressure on the arm G3 against the stop G4 which holds the stops in position and permits the operation whereby the spring tension is applied tending yieldingly to disengage the latch G3 and stop G4 but not actually doing so until the pressure of G3 on G4 is released by the neXt passage of the cam E2.

I claim:

1. A plow lift comprising a lifting lever, means for oscillating it, a latch lever pivoted thereon, a stop in opposition to said latch lever, a controlling rod carried by said lifting lever and in pivotal engagement with said latch lever, operating means for said controlling rod and yielding connections between it and said operating means.

Q. A plow lift comprising a lifting lever,

terposed between said the lift-i means for rotating it, a latch lever pivoted thereon. a stop in opposition to said latch lever, a controlling rod carried by said liftinof lever and in pivotal engagement with said latch lever, operating means for said controlling rod comprising a rocker arm and yielding connections between it and said operating means.

3. A plow lift lcomprising a cam shaft having cams thereon and means for rotating it, a rock shaft parallel therewith and having plow lifting levers pivotally"mounted thereon in opposition to said cams, rocker arms mounted on said rock shaft, locking means and controlling rods therefor mounted on said levers and a yielding connection incontrolling rods and rocker arms.

4. A plow lift comprising a cam shaft having cams thereon and means for rotating it, a rock shaft parallel therewith and having plow lifting levers pivotally mounted thereon in opposition to said cams, rocker arms mounted on said rock shaft, locking means and controlling rods therefor mounted on said. levers and a yielding connection interposed between s aid controlling rods and rocker arms and means responsive to the rotation of the cam shaft for rocking said rock shaft.

5. A plow lift comprising a cam shaft having cams thereon and means for rotating it, a rock shaft parallel therewith and having plow lifting levers pivotally mounted thereon in opposition to said cams, rocker arms mounted on said rock shaft, locking means and controlling rods therefor mounted on said levers and a yielding connection interposed between said controlling rods and rocker arms and means responsive to the rotation of the cam shaft for rotating said rock shaft and means for causing the rock shaftI to assume a locking and unlocking position once during two revolutions' of the cam shaft.

6. In a plow lift a plow lifting lever, a latch pivotally mounted thereon, a stop against which said latchis adapted to rest, a control rod carried by said lever pivoted at one end on said latch, a rocker arm and yielding connections between said rocker arm and said rod.

7 In a plow lift a plow lifting lever, a latch pivotally mounted thereon, a n stop against which said latch is adapted to rest.I a control rod carried by said lever pivoted at one yend on said latch, a rocker arm and yielding connections between said rocker arm and said rod, means for operating said rocker arm to alternately press said rod upward and yieldingly press it downward to move the latch alternately into operative and inoperative positions.

8. In a plow lift a plow latch pivotally mounted thereon,

lifting lever, a a stop against which said latch is adapted to rest, a control rod carried by said lever pivoted at one end on said latch, a rocker arm and yielding -connections between said rocker arm and said rod, means for operating said rocker arm to alternately press said rod upward and yieldingly press it downward to move the `latch alternately into operative and inoperative positions said means comprising a rocker shaft upon which the rocker arm is mounted, a cam arm mounted on said rocker shaft and cams rotatably mounted in opposition to said cam arm. i

9. Ina plow lift a swinging plow lifting lever, a locking means carried thereby, a shaft and means carried thereby for rocking said lever to 'raise and lower the plows and spring operated means carried by said shaft for yieldingly forcing the lock into a loc-king position as the plows are beingraised and for exerting a yielding force to swing the lock out of the locking position after the plows are locked.

10. A gang plow comprising a frame,

*plows ivotally mounted thereon and a plow contro ing means comprising a shaft, a series of cams angularly spaced thereon, means for raising the plows operated by one face of said cams during a complete revolution of the shaft in one direction and vmeans for lowering` the plows operated from the other facesof the cams'during the next succeeding complete revolution of the shaft.

v11. A gang plow device comprising a frame, a series of plows pivoted thereto, a shaft, plow controlling means for intermittently rotating the shaft by successive steps in the same direction and -means connected with the plows for raising them responsive to one of such steps of revolution and lowering them responsive to the next succeeding step, and a lock to hold the plows in the lifted position, yielding lock operating means and means for placing such operating means in tension ready to operate at the end of the forward movement of said plow controlling means in their action of raising the plows.

12. A gang plow device comprising a frame, a series of plows pivoted thereto, a shaft, a series of cam devices thereon for controlling the plows, means for intermittently rotatin the shaft by successive steps in the same irection, means connected to the plows for raising them responsive to one of such steps of revolution and lowering them responsive to the next succeeding step and a lock to hold the plows in the lifted position, yielding lock operating means and means for placing such operatlng means in tension ready to operate at the end of the forward movement of said plow controlling cani devices in their action of raising the plows.

13. A gang plow device comprising a frame, a series of plows pivot-cd thereto, a shaft, plow controlling means for intermittently rotating the shaft by successive revolutions in the same direction, means connected with the plmvs for raising them responsive to one of such complete revolutions' and lowering them responsive to the next succeeding revolution and a lock to hold the plows in the lifted position, yielding lock operating means and means for placing such operating means in tension ready to operate at the end of the forward movement of said plow controlling means in their action of raising the plows.

14. A gang plow device comprising a frame, a series of plows pivoted thereto a shaft, a series of cam devices thereon or controlling the plows, means for intermittently rotating the shaft by successive 1evo lutions in the same direction, means connected to the plows for raising them responsive to one of such complete revolutions and lowering them responsive to the next succeeding revolution and a lock to hold the plows in the lifted position, yielding lock operating means and means for placing such operating means in tension ready to operate at the end of the forward movement of said plow controlling cam devices in their action of raising the plows.

15. A gang plow device comprising a frame, a series of plows pivoted thereto, a shaft, plow controlling means for intermittently rotating the shaft by successive steps in the same direction, means connected with the plows for raising them responsive to one Aof such steps of revolution and lowering them responsive to the next succeeding step and a releasey to release the plows from their elevated position operated at the beginningr of the lowering action of the plow controlling means.

16. A gang plow device comprising a frame, a series of plows pivoted thereto` a shaft, a series of cam devices thereon for controlling the plows, means for intermittently rotating the shaft by successive steps in the same direction. means connected to the plows for raising them responsive to one of such steps of revolutionv and lowering them responsive to the next succeeding step and a release to release the plows from their elevated position operated at the beginning of the lowering action of the plow controlv ling cam devices.

lease the plows from their elevated position operated at the beginning of the lowering action of the plow controlling means.

18. A gang plow` device comprising a frame, a series of plows pivoted thereto, a shaft, a series of cam devices .thereon for controlling the plows, means for intermittently rotating the shaft by successive revolutions in the same direction, means connected to the plows for raising them responsive to one of such complete revolutions and. lowering them responsive to the next succeeding revolution and a release to release the plows from their elevated position operated at the beginning ofthe lowering action of the plow controlling cam dev1ces.

19. In a plow lift, a plow lifting lever, a.y

latch pivotally mounted thereon, a stop against which said latch is adapted to rest, a control rod carried by said lever pivoted at one end on said latch, a rocker arm and yielding connections between said rocker arm and said rod, said connections comprising a plurality of springs.

20. In a plow lift, a plow lifting lever, a

latch pivotally mounted thereon, a stop against which said latch is adapted to rest, a control rod carried by said lever pivoted at one end on said latch, a rocker arm and yielding connections between said rocker arm and said rod, said connections comprisl ing a plurality of opposed springs.

21. A plow lift comprising a cam shaft, cams thereon and driving means therefor, plow .lifting levers in opposition to said cams, locking means and operating springs therefor mounted 4on said levers, and means for actuating said springs.

22. A plow lift comprising a cam shaft, cams thereon and driving means therefor, plow lifting levers in opposition to said cams, locking means for said levers, and yielding operating means therefor, said means comprising opposed springs, one adapted to hold the locking means in operative position, and another to remove it therefrom, and means for actuating said springs.

23. A plow lift comprising a cam shaft, cams thereon and driving means therefor, plow lifting levers in opposition to said cams, locking means for said levers, and yielding operating means therefor, said means comprising opposed springs, one adapted to hold the locking means- 1n operative position, and another to remove it therefrom, and yielding means for actuating said springs.

24. A ploiv lift comprising a cam shaft, cams thereon and driving means therefor, plow lifting levers in opposition to said cams, locking means vfor said levers, and yielding operating 'means therefor, said means comprising opposed springs, one adapted to hold the locking means in operative position, and another to remove it therefrom, and automatic means for actuating said springs. 25. A plow lift comprising a cam shaft, cams thereon and driving means therefor, plow lifting `levers in opposition to said cams, locking means for said levers, and yielding operating means therefor, said means comprising` opposed springs, one adapted to hold the locking means in operative -position, and another to remove it therefrom, means for actuating said springs` said means comprising a rock shaft rotated by said cam shaft.

26. A plow lift comprising a cam shaft, cams thereon and driving means therefor, plow lifting levers in opposition to said cams, locking means for said levers, and yielding operating means therefor, said means comprising opposed springs,` one adapted to hold-the locking means in operative position, and another to remove it therefrom, means for actuating said s rings,

said means comprising a rock sha and yielding means for rotating it, in response to the rotation of said cam shaft.

27. A plow lift comprising a cam shaft, cams thereon and driving means therefor, plow lifting levers in opposition to said cams, locking means and operating means therefor, comprising opposed springs, and means for actuatin said springs alternating to lock and un ock said locking means.

28. A plow lift comprising a frame, means for lifting the plows out of the ground, a locking means pivoted intermediate its ends on the plow frame, a yielding means for operating it, a stop engaged by said locking means, said yielding means engaging the ends of said locking means opposite the stop 

